Adriana P.O.V.

I opened the door of my small apartment. Dad was sitting on a stained couch in the living room. I slipped off my shoes and called,

"Hey Dad I'm home!"

He let out a grunt of acknowledgement and continued to stare at the bright laptop screen in front of him. Empty bottles of whiskey and vodka littered the couch and ground around him. I sighed and walked behind him. I peered at the computer screen and blinked in surprise when I saw a travel agency ticket purchasing page pulled up.

"Europe? Are we going on a vacation, Dad?"

Dad grabbed a bottle and turned around and threw it at me. I let out a small scream and dodged it. It smashed against the wall, making me flinch. Dad stood up and towered over me cowering on the ground. He slapped me as hard as he could across the face and he roared,

"We don't have enough money for a vacation, you little ungrateful bitch! Are you not satisfied?!"

I whispered, trying to appease him,

"That's not what I meant, Dad. I am satisfied. I was just wondering."

Dad's angry face fell and a softer look came into his eyes. He kneeled before me and stared at my face. Dad cupped my face and stroked my cheek with his thumb.

"You look so much like her, you know. You have her eyes, her nose, her body, her lips."

His thumb stroked my lip and he leaned forward. His breath brushed hot across my face and the scent of alcohol made me gag. I shoved Dad away and ran to my room, my body quivering with fear. I slammed my door and locked it. I sat in the corner and tried to slow my pounding heart. After a while I finally dragged myself to my feet and grabbed my dress from my closet. I silently went downstairs and ran to the door. Only until it was open I called to Dad,

"I am going to Madison's for the night. Be back tomorrow."

Dad started to stand up but I had already closed the door and was running to my car.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Madison, I can't wear those!"

Madison was desperately shoving 5 inch sparkling black heels into my hands. Madison snarled,

"You will wear these heels if its the last thing I do!"

I let out a squeal when she tackled me and pinned to the ground. She tried to hold me down and slip the shoes on at the same time. I laughed and pushed at her shoulders, trying to get her off of me. Madison's mom Carrie opened the door and looked at us in confusion. Madison sat up and showed Carrie the shoes,

"Don't you think Adriana should wear these?"

Carrie nodded and said,

"Have fun tonight, girls! Be safe."

She closed the door and soon the sound of car leaving the driveway could be heard. Madison successfully got the shoes on and when I stood up she squealed in delight.

"Perfect! Now, how do I look?"

She was in a tight royal blue dress that went to mid-thigh like mine. She had 5 inch sparkly blue heels and her blond hair fell over her shoulders in blonde waves. I sighed,

"You look gorgeous. I look like bland cardboard."

I look down at myself and frowned. Madison yelled,

"Do you see how gorgeous you are?! The guys aren't gonna make fun of you so get that out of that smart brain of yours!"

I giggled when she pulled to me my feet and ordered,

"Hair and makeup. Now."

~~~~~~~~~~~

We sat in Madison's car watching the crazy house party from the street. I felt nervous since this was my first party. Madison gave me an encouraging smile and opened the door. Taking a deep breath, I opened my car door and walked up the walkway to the door. Even Stemer opened the door and slurred,

"Hey Madison!"

He saw me and gawked,

"Woah who is this?"

Madison linked her arm though mine and she beamed at Evan,

"It's Adriana! Doesn't she look gorgeous?"

Evan stared at my bare legs and nodded to himself. Madison pulled me into crowded house and as I walked by Evan he slapped my butt. I let out a yelp and stared at him. I blushed when he winked. Madison dragged me to a table laden with drinks. She poured two shots and handed it to me. I blinked at it thoughtfully. I had never drunk alcohol before but I had seen what it does to people. I shivered when I remembered Dad. But surely one shot couldn't hurt. I threw it back and coughed when it went down burning. Madison laughed and poured another round.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I laughed and danced with Madison on the dance floor. I don't remember how many shots I had but all I knew now was I was having fun. A pair of hands rested on my swaying hips. I smiled and Evan and began to dance with him, swaying and moving up and down against him. Evan whispered in my ear hotly,

"Want to continue this somewhere else?"

He began to kiss my neck and the haze in my brain cleared. I stepped away from him and shook my head. Evan grabbed my hand insisted,

"Come on it will be fun."

I shook my head feverently and tried to pull of hand out of his. The room suddenly was too crowded and the pounding music made my body vibrate. Evan pushed me against the wall and purred, "Come on baby you know you want to..." I gasped when he slowly licked up the length of my neck. He tilted his head slightly and moved his face towards mine. When he was only inches away I realized he was about to kiss me. I didn't want my first kiss to be like this! Suddenly, Evan was gone from in front of me and his hand let mine. I looked around to see an attractive guy throwing Evan away. Evan slurred,

"Hey we can have a three-some if you want, man."

The hot guy threw his fists into Evan's drunken smile and Evan collapsed, knocked out cold. I gawked at him then looked up at Mr. Muscles,

"I didn't know anyone could punch like that."

He rolled his eyes and said,

"Let's get you home."

I shook my head,

"No Mr. Muscles, I'm here with Madison. Maaaaadisooooon!"

I sang and giggled. Mr. Muscles sighed and pointed,

"Shes not driving you home tonight."

A strange guy had her pinned against the wall and they were passionately kissing and his hand was slowly sliding up her thigh. I furrowed my brow,

"Gross."

I giggled. That word sounded funny.

"Groooss. Groooss."

Mr. Muscles sighed in exasperation and tried to pull me to his car. Once at the car I stopped and frowned at him. I stood up on my tiptoes so I could look him in the face and asked seriously,

"Your not drunk right? No drunk driving?"

He shook his head and agreed,

"No drunk driving."

I giggled and held up my pinky,

"Pinky promise?"

He rolled his eyes and wrapped his pinky around mine before getting in the car. I looked around the fancy interior of the car and asked,

"I thought you would have had a bad ass motorcycle, Mr. Muscles."

Mr. Muscles rolled his eyes again. He seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. It was cute. When I told him so he glared at me, effectively shutting me up. Then Mr. Muscles asked,

"How was your first party?"

I giggled,

"It was lots and lots and lots and looooots of fun."

Then my goofy smile fell slightly,

"But I didn't get to dance with the guy I'm in love with."

I sighed slightly,

"He's the whole reason I get dressed up."

He glanced at me and asked,

"Who is it?"

I continued to talk, ignoring him,

"But he's like sooooo out of my league. I'm not even pretty so I can't confess to him or anything. He is like, the King of Waffles and I am a tiny Lego my Eggo."

I giggled and laid my hand on his arm,

"Do you think I'm pretty, Mr. Muscles?"

He looked at the road and simply said,

"Not my cup of tea."

Tears pricked my eyes and a few fell down my cheeks. He looked startled. I already knew I wasn't pretty but I would have liked to think I looked attractive tonight. I realized he was passing my apartment complex.

"Stop here."

He frowned,

"Why? This is a bad neighborhood. I'm sorry if I made you upset but I want to get you home so don't get out here."

I shook my head said sulkily,

"I live here. Thanks Mr. Muscles."

I kissed his cheek and got out of the car. I stumbled to my apartment door and as I reached for the door knob the door suddenly flew open. Dad stood there, his raw fury whirling around him. He grabbed my hair and dragged me into the apartment, slamming the door behind him. Dad screamed in my face while he painfully pulled at my brown hair,

"What the hell were you doing?! Going to a party?! Lying to me?! This is the reason your mother is dead! You killed her! You killed her!!!"

He threw me against a wall and everything went black.

~~~~~~~~

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